Q. In everyday life we often use products that contain a small percentage of alcohol, such as cologne, mouthwash, deodorants, etc. Is this permissible? If so, can one pray after using cologne and similar products? May I also ask if it is permissible to pray if one is wearing a short sleeve shirt?
A. Basharat
A. Alcohol is forbidden to use when it is an ingredient of an intoxicating drink. In such a case, even if the percentage is very small and intoxication occurs only when it is used in plenty, the drink is forbidden even in very small quantities. However, using perfumes and similar products is permissible because the impurity associated with alcohol is abstract, not material. It is permissible to wear perfume and then offer prayers. Besides, the alcohol present in such products is often of a different type to that in intoxicating drinks.
Indeed there is a percentage of alcohol in a variety of foods that we use everyday, such as bread, yogurt, etc. As for wearing sleeveless shirt or robe when praying, this is perfectly permissible.
What we are required to cover in prayer is the awrah, which is the area between the waistline and the knees.
